If you’re like most homeowners, you probably take pride in keeping your home looking its best. So, when it comes to your flooring, nothing beats the beauty and elegance of hardwood.
There’s a reason hardwood flooring is such a popular choice for homeowners — it’s incredibly durable and resilient, able to withstand a lot of wear and tear. Not only does hardwood add style and sophistication, it also increases the value of your property.
When properly cared for, hardwood floors can last for generations. On the other hand, it doesn’t take much water or other liquid spills to cause stains and damage to what is an otherwise extremely resilient material. So cleaning hardwood can be a bit tricky, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the nuances of hardwood.
The good news is that cleaning hardwood floors is easier than you might think — this is where establishing a regular cleaning routine comes in. By setting aside a few minutes each day, even the busiest schedule will have time to maintain one of your home’s biggest investments. You can prevent the buildup of dirt and debris that leads to scratches and dull finishes, while actually saving time by not having to dive into as many deeper cleans.
So if you want to keep your floors looking their best, follow these simple tips on cleaning hardwood floors.
Clean messes right away
Whatever the mess is, it’s best to clean it up right away — but this is especially true of liquid spills. A water spill that sits for longer than a few minutes can leave a dull white film on the finish, while darker liquids can leave dark stains that are difficult to remove.
In our climate, it’s easy to track snow indoors — we’ve all seen the slushy, muddy mess in and around busy entrances during the winter. But it’s important to keep those wet, snowy boots off your hardwood floor. It may not be visible, but salt and other snow-melters applied to icy steps and walkways will also be stuck to your boots and tracked inside. Those snow melters will leave residue and stains on your floors also, so if snow gets tracked onto your hardwood, it needs to be cleaned up right away.
Pet urine is also one of the most common causes of hardwood floor stains. If you don’t clean it up before it dries out, it can fade your floor’s shine and cause discolouration. The uric acid in urine can break down the surface finish of a hardwood floor, soak into the wood and leave a deep, black stain that may never come out.
Clean these messes right away by using a cloth or paper towel to soak up the liquid, and then give your floor a wipe with a slightly dampened cloth or mop. These messes can usually be cleaned up in just a matter of minutes, while leaving them can cause damage that may require much more labour-intensive refinishing or possibly even replacing boards.
Regularly sweep or vacuum
Some experts recommend you sweep or dust daily, but in all honesty, most people really don’t have time to clean daily. It entirely depends on your lifestyle and the traffic in your home. Most hardwood floors should be swept or dusted regularly to avoid micro scratches from dirt and debris, which can cause your floor to look dull and worn out. In high-traffic areas, that might need to happen daily or at least a few times a week. In moderately trafficked and lesser used areas, you might only need to sweep once a week.
A soft-bristled broom made of nylon or rubber is your best choice for sweeping up while avoiding additional scratches — don’t use a heavy broom that you’d use to sweep out your garage.
Vacuuming is also fine on hardwood floors as long as you use a floor-brush attachment or a vacuum that has soft-bristle rollers and a retractable rotating brush to prevent scratching. Vacuuming will remove all the dust and dirt that that sweeping alone may miss, but it isn’t necessary to pull out your vacuum cleaner on a daily basis.
While you’re at it, don’t forget to regularly clean under runners and rugs. Dirt and debris — even pet hair — can still get under those rugs and act like sandpaper as you walk across them, so it’s best to be thorough.
Mopping Hardwood floors
If you’re cleaning messes right away and sweeping or vacuuming dirt, dust and debris regularly, then you only need to clean heavy-traffic areas with a damp mop once or twice a month.
Adding just a few drops of dishwashing liquid or Murphy’s Oil Soap into a bucket of warm water is all you really need. A little soap — and it is literally a few drops, less than half a teaspoon — will remove any dirt, and the tiny amount isn’t enough to leave any dull, soapy residue. You can also add a cap full of vinegar, which will act as a mild disinfectant without leaving residue, streaks or damaging your finish.
Don’t use a sopping-wet mop or leave standing water on your hardwood floor. Make sure to wring most of the water out of the mop. Better yet, use a lightly dampened microfibre mop instead of a sponge mop or string mop. Excessive water can damage the sealant that protects the wood and get between the boards on wooden floors, causing them to swell and buckle.
Be very careful about what kind of solutions you’re using on your floor. Often, just water is good enough, or you can go with a spray-on hardwood cleaner that’s approved for your type of flooring.
Whatever you do, make sure you don’t use:
- Abrasive cleaners, scouring powders, or scouring pads, as they can leave scratches and can strip the protective coating from the floor.
- Old-fashioned DIY solutions like baking soda or strong vinegar solutions, as they can damage or dull your floor’s finish.
- Harsh detergents or products that are designed for cleaning vinyl or tile flooring on your hardwood floor. They can leave residue that will leave a buildup and cause hazing. One way to check for residue is to spray some of the solution on glass to see what it leaves behind.
Mop in an S-shaped pattern to ensure you’re reaching all areas, and follow the grain of the wood as you go. If you’re not soaking your floor, then it should dry fairly quickly as a result. You can also do a quick wipe down with a microfibre cloth as you go, or turn on a fan to help speed up the drying process.
Revitalising Your Hardwood Floors
Over time, your hardwood floors can start to show their age. Scratches become more visible, and the once-glossy finish can start to look dull. Fortunately, there are a few simple ways to revitalise hardwood floors and make them look like new again.
There are wood floor products designed for scratch repair. One option is to use a liquid scratch concealer. These products dry to form a permanent seal that won’t come off during cleaning. Be sure to select a concealer that best matches the colour of your floor’s finish. Most manufacturers have recommended products that can deal with certain types of scratches — use those first before you try any other method.
Another option is to use wood floor polish. This will help restore the shine of your floors and also protect them from wear. Additionally, you might be able to use floor wax to both deep clean and revitalise your floors. Be sure to check with your floor’s manufacturer first, as not all floors should be waxed.
Different finishes require different treatments, so you really need to check the product recommendations of your finish and flooring manufacturer. Before applying anything, you need to make sure it’s appropriate for your floor, that your floor is suitably prepped, and the treatment is applied properly.
Protect Your Hardwood Floors
As any homeowner knows, keeping a clean house can be a never-ending battle. Dirt and debris have a way of sneaking in, no matter how vigilant you are.
One of the best ways to prevent dirt, grime, water and snow from being tracked onto your hardwood floors is to invest in adequate door mats for all of your home’s entrances. By placing a mat at each outside entrance to your home — both inside and outside, if possible — you’ll encourage your family and guests to wipe their feet before coming inside. This simple measure can help to keep dirt off of your floors, reducing the amount of sweeping and vacuuming that you have to do.
In addition, floor mats can also catch sand and other small debris that can, and will, scratch your floors. If you have hardwood floors, placing rugs in high-traffic areas can also help to protect them from scratches and wear. Also, don’t forget furniture pads to go under chairs and any other furniture you might move. Those simple little pads act as a buffer between your furniture and the floor, and will provide so much protection from scratches and gouging.
Caring for hardwood floors is simpler than you might think. A little preventative maintenance goes a long way towards preserving the beauty of your floors.
To recap:
- Sweep, dust or dry mop daily (or a few times a week) to remove dirt and grit that can scratch the surface.
- Vacuum weekly, using the bare floor setting.
- Clean heavy-traffic areas with a damp mop twice a month.
- To deep clean, use a recommended hardwood floor cleaner once a month following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Keeping your hardwood floors in great condition doesn’t mean you have to follow a rigorous cleaning regimen. By following these simple tips, and with a little bit of preventative effort, you can keep your floors looking clean and pristine for years to come.
Our Flooring Experts Are Here to Help
If you’re not sure what kind of hardwood flooring to choose for your project, we’re here to help. Our flooring experts are highly knowledgeable and always happy to answer your questions. We can also help with flooring installation and hardwood floor refinishing.
Simply drop by our showroom or give us a call for a quote at 613-688-2080.
